An auto-rickshaw carrying four passengers tipped over and began sinking into a rain-filled cavity in the road in India.

Footage shows the three-wheeled vehicle turning a corner when it suddenly drops into the depression, which was hidden from view by water following heavy rainfall.

The driver quickly rescues a child from the vehicle as a passerby rushes to help in Adhartal, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

Other kindhearted locals arrived at the scene and helped a woman out of the vehicle before appearing to assist the driver in righting it, as the video clip ends.

Local media reported that a pair of women and two children sustained minor injuries in the incident.

Residents have called on local authorities to repair the large pothole on June 26.

India has one of the highest rates of road accidents in the world, with thousands of fatalities and injuries reported each year.

The poor track record is blamed on unsafe road conditions, reckless driving, inadequate enforcement of traffic laws, and a lack of awareness about road safety.